A number of under-23 players were released by the club in the middle of last season, while development team manager Kevin Nicholson also departed ahead of Bellamy's arrival.

Warnock previously said: “We're restructuring the Under 23s as I don't feel it has solved the problem it was brought in for – and I don't think players get anything out of their games.

“We used to have the reserve leagues and play the pros who weren't in the first team with the young lads and you used to have competitive games. But it's almost like a five-a-side Under 23s now – and unfortunately for these young lads they've been failed by the system."